When was the first Sherlock Holmes story written?

Which of the following is not one of the four full-length novels starring Holmes?

"The Five Orange Pips"

"A Study in Scarlet"

"The Hound of the Baskervilles"

"The Five Orange Pips" is a short starring Holmes as he investigates the KKK.

What is the name of Holmes' older brother?

Myron

Mycroft

Mylon

Mycroft is seven years older than Holmes, and just as clever, but is too lazy and out of shape to keep up with his brother's exploits.

What is the name of Sherlock Holmes' arch enemy?

Arthur Conan Doyle

Professor Moriarty

Dr. Watson

Despite the large part he plays in Sherlock Holmes lore, criminal mastermind Moriarty appeared directly in only two Holmes stories.

Who are the Baker Street Irregulars?

police officers

shopkeepers

street urchins

Holmes enlists a group of street urchins known as the Baker Street Irregulars to transport messages and spy on clients and suspects.

Arthur Conan Doyle wrote his first Holmes novel in just three weeks.

TRUE

FALSE

Doyle wrote "A Study in Scarlet" in just three weeks in 1886 and published the book the next year.

Which of these sports is Sherlock Holmes most likely to practice?

baseball

boxing

rowing

Like Arthur Conan Doyle himself, Sherlock Holmes was an avid boxer.

What word is written at the murder scene in "A Study in Scarlet?"

sterben

rache

leben

The word rache — German for "revenge" — is written above the body of Enoch Drebber.

What is the speckled band?

a piece of jewelry

a coin

a snake

The speckled band in "The Adventure of the Speckled Band," is actually a poisonous snake used as a murder weapon.

Sherlock Holmes casually injects cocaine in the first Holmes novel.

TRUE

FALSE

Holmes injects cocaine to relax in "A Study in Scarlet." The drug was legal in England at the time the book was written.

Where does Holmes store his tobacco.

in his sock

in a cigar box

under his hat

Pipe-aficionado Sherlock Holmes keeps his tobacco in a Persian slipper — a type of sock.

What book introduces readers to Mary Morstan?

"The Hound of the Baskervilles"

"The Sign of the Four"

"The Valley of Fear"

Readers meet Mary Morstan — who later marries Dr. Watson — in "The Sign of the Four."

What makes the dog glow in "The Hound of the Baskervilles?"

trick lighting

phosphorous

evil spirits

The mighty hound in the novel has been painted with phosphorous so it appears to glow.

Who is the killer in "The Hound of the Baskervilles?"

Stapleton

Henry

Moriarty

Stapleton — long-lost son of Rodger Baskerville — is willing to commit murder to get his hands on the Baskerville fortune.

Holmes never utters the phrase, "Elementary, my dear Watson" in any of Doyle's books or stories.

TRUE

FALSE

While Holmes never uses this phrase in the books, this phrase is used in a 1929 film, which may be the source of its popularity.

What is used as the murder weapon in "The Valley of Fear?"

shotgun

knife

poison

In this full-length novel, Douglas of Birlstone is killed with a sawed-off shotgun.

What is Silver Blaze?

metallic poison

horse

regal manor

Silver Blaze is a horse who stars in "The Adventure of Silver Blaze."

In what story is Holmes seemingly killed of?

"The Sign of the Four"

"The Empty House"

"The Final Problem"

Holmes appears to die in "The Final Problem" when facing off with Moriarty at Reichenbach Falls.

In what story does a very much alive Holmes reappear?

"The Empty House"

"The Valley of Fear"

"A Case of Identity"

Bowing in to tremendous pressure from fans, Doyle brings Holmes back in "The Empty House."

What is the period between "The Final Problem" and "The Empty House" known as?

The Missing Years

The Lost Weekend

The Great Hiatus

During his "Great Hiatus," Holmes spent two years in Tibet and another year traveling and working in Europe before returning to London.

What does Holmes pursue after retiring?

chess

painting

beekeeping

At age 49, Holmes retires to Sussex Downs and takes up beekeeping.

When was the very first Sherlock Holmes movie made?

1900

1920

1940

A 30-second movie — made in 1900 — called "Sherlock Holmes Baffled" marks the first on-screen appearance of the detective.

Who were the four in "The Sign of the Four?"

business leaders

convicts

pirates

The four in this Holmes title refers to a group of convicts who plot to recover a hidden treasure.

How many times did actor William Gillette portray Holmes on stage in the early 20th century?

100

500

1,000 plus

Gillette not only starred as Holmes more than 1,000 times on stage, but he also acted in a 1916 silent movie about the great detective.

Who plays Holmes in the BBC TV series, which premiered in 2010?

Mark Gatiss

Andrew Scott

Benedict Cumberbatch

Cumberbatch plays Holmes, while Martin Freeman stars as Watson in the BBC series "Sherlock."

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